ACT funds new robotic surgeon for Addenbrooke’s prostate cancer treatment

The new robot replaces the original, now obsolete, robot funded through charitable donations in 2006. Addenbrooke’s was one of the first UK hospitals to invest in da Vinci robotic surgery, which enables the surgical team to remove the prostate with minimal risk and side-effects to the patient.

Benefits of robotic surgery versus conventional open surgery are many. The ‘keyhole’ nature of the surgery means it is less painful and there is 80% less blood loss; the recovery time is much faster – treatment is a day or overnight case versus a week in hospital and months of recuperation and there are fewer side effects such as incontinence.

Since the acquisition of the robotic surgeon in 2006, Professor David Neal, a world expert on prostate cancer, has pioneered the largest programme of robotic prostate surgery within the NHS in England. In 2012, the team treated their 1,000th patient with the old da Vinci robot, now the team hopes to treat 1,000 more men with the new machine.

Ian Smith, Addenbrooke’s prostate cancer patient and face of ACT’s fundraising campaign, said: “I was so lucky. When I was given the choice of conventional open surgery at my local hospital or robotic surgery at Addenbrooke’s, it was a no brainer. The care I received was faultless on every level. The surgeons removed my prostate and the lymph nodes around it with minimum damage – I didn’t even need radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Within 24 hours I was heading home and back at work three weeks later. I really do owe my life to the amazing da Vinci robot.”

More than just a replacement, the new robot, whch was first used in July, provides all the patient benefits of its predecessor plus many extra hi-tech features. The new robot has four rather than three surgical arms for greater flexibility and extra surgical precision to reduce the risk of side effects and for more effective treatments. There is more magnification and better imagery; improved sampling of tissues to support essential prostate cancer research; capacity to treat heavier patients and the potential to treat other conditions, eg removal of bladder and kidney carcinomas.

Professor Neal (pictured)  said: “It is fantastic news that, thanks to ACT, we can continue to offer the very best treatment for prostate cancer for patients referred to Cambridge with the very latest machine. It also increases Addenbrooke's reputation as a world-class, comprehensive cancer centre."

ACT continues to fundraise for the robotic surgery programme at Addenbrooke’s in order to ensure that equipment is kept up to date in this fast-developing field; that world-leading research into prostatic disease continues; that more surgeons are trained in robotic surgery; and that the robot is used for a wider range of procedures.

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For information about the continued fundraising go to www.actcharity.org.uk/robot or call ACT on 01223 217757.
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